So. What is autism? For those of you studying education, psychology, and nursing, autism may be a familiar topic. After all, as many as 1 in 50 school-aged children in the US have autism, with the rates of diagnosis continuing to rise. The next generation of teachers and doctors will have to be ready. For others in the Trinity community, autism might be something you’ve heard of but don’t know much about.

Here are some of the basics:

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a broad term referring to a range of neurodevelopmental disorders. The disorders vary in symptom and severity: at the more severe end of the spectrum is Autistic Disorder. Milder cases include Asperger’s Syndrome and Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD).

ASD affects every segment of the population, regardless of ethnicity, socioeconomic status, geography, or age. It does, however, affect four times more men than women.

Autism is difficult to diagnose; however, in recent years, doctors have gotten better at identifying it. Thus, the increase in confirmed cases may not reflect an actual increase in ASD, but rather increased awareness.

“Autistic children gathering around a computer to watch a movie made with LEGO toys. LEGO therapy has been shown to help children with autistic disorders develop their social communication and turn-taking skills.” Courtesy Encyclopedia Britannica.

ASD frequently occurs with other disorders, particularly epilepsy. As many as 20-30% of children with ASD will develop epilepsy by adulthood.

The causes of autism are not fully understood, although it is probably a combination of environmental and genetic factors.

ASD is difficult to diagnose, requiring extensive, detailed screenings to rule out a range of other psychological and developmental illnesses.

There is no cure for ASD, but early intervention and ongoing treatment can alleviate the symptoms. Treatments include highly structured, highly personalized education; use of multimedia materials; counseling for patients and caregivers; medication to address issues like depression, anxiety, hyperactivity, and aggression; and Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), a form of behavior modification therapy that emphasizes positive reinforcement.

While many parents cringe at the thought of their child being labelled “autistic,” a good diagnosis paves the way for proper treatment.

For more in-depth information on ASD, come to the library and visit our Autism Awareness Month display in the basement. In addition to the facts, you’ll find books and movies about the disorders.